Apply: UNOCHA Public Information Officer

Deadline: 11 January, 2024

Location: N’djamena, Chad

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is seeking to fill the position of Public Information Officer.

UNOCHA is designed to strengthen the UN’s response to complex emergencies and natural disasters.

Responsibilities

Conduct reporting and analysis by establishing and maintaining a reporting system within the country; drafting and distributing regular reports on the humanitarian situation; ensuring flow of information and analysis of developments in the country/region, including tracking trends and sharing reports with headquarters and key partners
Ensure implementation of information programmes to publicise priority issues and/or major events
Monitor and analyse current events, public opinion and press; identify issues and trends, and advises management on appropriate action/responses
Produce or oversee production of a specific type or types (e.g., print, broadcast, etc.) of information communications products
Undertake activities to promote media coverage (e.g., press conferences, press releases, interviews, press seminars and other special activities) of priority issues and/or major events
Prepare, based on official UN documentation and other sources, initial drafts of articles or chapters for inclusion in UN newsletters, periodicals, reports and books
Initiate and sustain professional relationships with key constituencies
Acts as focal point on specific issues, monitoring and reporting on developments, responding to enquiries, etc
Support the HCT advocacy and resource mobilisation strategy and undertake relevant activities in close collaboration with the UN and humanitarian advocacy and communication groups
Provides guidance to, and may supervise, more junior staff

Requirements

Knowledge and understanding of humanitarian, emergency relief assistance, and related humanitarian issues
Ability to identify issues, analyse and participate in the resolution of issues/problems
Ability to develop sources for data collection
Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis
Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, work under pressure in a highly stressful environment
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Communication, Journalism, International Relations, Public Administration, or a related field
First-level university degree combined with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in place of the advanced university degree
Five years, minimum, of progressively responsible experience in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or a related field
Humanitarian experience in the field
Experience with crisis communications
Experience in a humanitarian context in the UN common system or other comparable international organisation (desirable)
Experience in West and Central Africa (desirable)